mgteich

I don't think that we have much of a clue as to how Belichick intends to use Burgess. Apparently he is a major role in mind or he wouldn't have given up the two draft choices for him.

While we disagree some, but I think we generally know what Belichick wants out of Mayo, Guyton, Thomas, Woods and Banta-Cain. All have their roles. Bruschi also has his role. In the end, there are few reps for more than six linebackers. Burgess will take reps from these six.

satz

As resis,price and others he has been lining up as a pur 4-3 pass rush end all camp. I really do not thing he is going to start playing OLB during a real game and not in training camp.

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Ochmed Jones

I think BB knows that without pressure on the QB, any defense would be in trouble. Hopefully BB is thinking back to the Jets game that cost us the playoffs when we gave up a first down on 3rd and forever because we lacked a pass rush, and visualizing Burgess as a 3rd and long player that can generate a rush.

Rob0729

Well, in fairness, they were only running the 4-3 the week he was here when practice was open to the public and media. We have no idea how they have been using him behind closed doors now that training camp has broken (Burgess came in about a week before the end of camp).

I fully expect him to play OLB and just not situationally. He has played OLB in a 3-4 defense based on the Pats' 3-4 while he was in Oakland. He has a decent knowledge of the system and the position. He might not be an every down OLB, but I would expect him to get the majority of the snaps at OLB.

robertweathers

Burgess will play 20-30 snaps a game and those mostly will be passing downs where he can pin his ears back and put some pressure on the passer. He is not a 85-90% LB/DE in this D. If he forces a incomplete on 3nd and 8, or comes up with a sack or even forces an INT once a game, he is worth his roster spot IMO.

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“I'm not really concerned about the other 31 teams,” - Bill Belichick

"If a player has talent and doesn't succeed, that means that they either don't want to be successful or I have failed as a coach." - Bill Belichick

Rob0729

His run defense ability is very underrated. He can stop the run. He will probably see play on at least some running downs. Initially, he may be used more sparingly, but I bet he could be in for the majority of plays by midseason. No one else has really won that OLB/DE position from him.

HEY BRO! WHAT UP?

I'm starting to think that the Pats are going to show more four man fronts instead of 3 man fronts. I just don't see them having enough at LB in order for them to run a full time 3-4. In fact, with the drafting of Brace, addition of Burgess and the strong play by Pryor, BB will find a way to get them on the field as much as possible. In addition, I think the less LB's on the field, the more plays you will get out of Mayo and Thomas because their responsibilities increase. Lastly, BB can substitute a 4 LB for an extra safety like Chung who is more athletic than Woods or Bruschi and can lay the lumber. Because the Pats may take very early leads, expect to see more of a 4 down lineman, 2 LB's and 5 DB's. For example:

On early downs:

DE: Seymour
DT: Brace/Pryor
DT:Wilfork
DE: Warren
OLB: Thomas
MLB: Mayo/Guyton/Bruschi/Lenon
OLB: Woods/Guyton
CB: Springs/Wilhite/Butler
CB:Bodden/Butler/Wheatley
FS: Sanders/Chung/McGowen
SS: Merriweather/Chung/McGowen


On passing downs:

DE: Burgess
DT: Seymour
DT: Warren
DE: Green/Banta-Cain
OLB: Thomas
MLB: Mayo
Hybrid SS/OLB: Chung
CB: Springs/Wilhite/Wheatley
CB: Bodden/Butler/Wheatley
FS: Sanders
SS: Merriweather

This certainly looks a lot better than running a 3-4 just because you like to run a 3-4. I'm sure Belichick is going to run more of these looks to hide the weakness at LB. Finally, notice that Warren and Seymour are inside on passing downs. We all know that when Seymour rushes inside with a 4 man line, he's almost impossible to block. Add to the fact that Burgess is excellent off of the edge, this defense can be pretty damn good this year.

robertweathers

I agree. It drives me nuts though. Personally, when I have seen him play (not a ton, I admit) he seems to take on the TE, or guard & hold his ground and with his quickness seem to slide off and get in on the play. However, I read these scouting reports and one says that he is an adequete run defender, sets the edge, drives blockers back, but not a great tackler and another one says he is undersized and gets pushed back. undersized??? The guy is 6-2 265?? In theory, that body-type should give him good leverage to play with. His arms don't seem that long so maybe he can't keep his distance and control the blocker. I think, as long as he knows the D ok and plays with good fundementals, he can be decent at playing the run as their OLB.

My .02$

__________________
“I'm not really concerned about the other 31 teams,” - Bill Belichick

"If a player has talent and doesn't succeed, that means that they either don't want to be successful or I have failed as a coach." - Bill Belichick

Scouse Patriot

I think we do, he'll play both 4-3 DE (probrably on known passing downs) and 3-4 OLB at times, or if he can do it maybe more. No overcomplication required. He's here to rush the passer and has a knack of stopping the run, wether thats every down, 1st, 2nd, 3rd...2nd and long, 3rd and long...longer than long or just a long, long way.

We gave up two picks for Burgess, we're not going to trade for a guy who just doesn't fit into the ideas Bill has for this season. The only question marks that hang over Burgess are is he good enough to transition and better than what we already have. When taking into account the 4-3 (or whatever variant we employ) and 3-4 defences I think is he in pure pass rushing roles.

IMO anyways..

spacecrime

Was he here all camp? I thought he came in late. Anyway, I just figure if he's only been here a couple of weeks, it's too early to say what he will or won't be doing in December and January based on one week of training camp observation is August.

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“When we look at the board, based on everything we want in a football player at that particular time, we evaluate them and take the player that fits best for our football team. That’s what we always do, and I think the last nine years we’ve put a pretty competitive team out there on the field every year. I think that’s how you do it – you get good football players. Sometimes they are not always at the No. 1 position, but I don’t think you pass up good football players to get the guys who aren’t as good just because they’re at a position that somebody feels you need.”
BB on his draft philosophy, April 2010